FIMA Ch153: Wife

On the Canglan Continent, there were two great river systems, known as the Cang He and the Lan Jiang.

These two rivers nourished nearly most of the living beings on the continent, and the immortal sects across the land were also established along their waters.

At the upper reaches of the Lan Jiang, there was a vast expanse of misty divine mountains rising into the clouds, their foothills shrouded in fog all year round, sacred and mysterious.

This mountain region was called the Taixuan Mountain Range.

Taixuan Xianzong, one of the four great immortal sects of the Canglan Continent, was located there.

Just as the snow-white spirit vessel approached the Taixuan Mountain Range, Gu Siyuan awakened from meditation. The spiritual energy here was several times richer than it had been on the journey, and once they truly entered the mountains, it would surely be even more astonishing.

A true blessed land of immortals.

He rose to his feet, lightly brushed off his robe hem, and turned to look at a soft couch not far away. Curled up on it was a slender figure in red.

His face was fair, his lashes long, his sleeping features quiet and beautiful.

But Gu Siyuan had not the slightest intention of showing tenderness. He said coldly, “You should leave now.”

The person who had seemed deeply asleep snapped open his eyes at once, completely clear-headed, and glared at Gu Siyuan. “How can you be so heartless? I’m not even fully awake yet, and you’re already kicking your husband out?”

Gu Siyuan’s expression did not change. “Don’t act spoiled with me.”

Xie Xueyi sat on the couch hugging his knees. Hearing that, he immediately let out a playful laugh.

“Oh? A dirty mind sees dirt everywhere. I’m speaking to you properly, so how did that become acting spoiled? Could it be that Siyuan-gege is hoping I’ll act spoiled for you? If so, just say it…”

Standing by the window with his hands behind his back, Gu Siyuan glanced at the familiar view outside. “The immortal sect is right ahead. The new disciples are about to assemble. If you still don’t leave, what are you going to say when others ask?”

Last night, this fellow had used the excuse that the place where the new disciples were gathered had terrible conditions, then shamelessly occupied his bed and stayed the whole night.

Xie Xueyi blinked innocently. “What else could I say? The truth, of course. This humble one happened to run into the heartless man he was once engaged to, who also just happens to be the current da shixiong of Taixuan Xianzong. So naturally the old passion rekindled and our past love resumed.”

Gu Siyuan raised a brow. “The truth? Including the fact that you spent ten years among the demonic path—will you tell that too?”

Xie Xueyi’s smile froze instantly.

His expression turned icy as he stared at Gu Siyuan. “You… even know that.”

Gu Siyuan nodded faintly and said nothing more.

Silence filled the air.

Xie Xueyi stepped down from the couch and walked toward Gu Siyuan one step at a time. His bare white feet lightly stepped onto Gu Siyuan’s black magic boots, delicate and lovely beyond even cold jade.

Tilting his head slightly, he looked at him with an expression that was both enchanting and innocent. “If Siyuan-gege hadn’t said it, I never would’ve known that gege cared about me so much. Do you know everything about me?”

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained stern and cold, unmoved by his teasing.

He only looked at Xie Xueyi and said, “Taixuan Xianzong is strict in its examination of new disciples. You must not act too casually or licentiously, and you must not mention your past so lightly again. The fact that you were abducted by the demonic path was no secret in your hometown. The conflict between the righteous and demonic paths is growing sharper now. If your identity is exposed, it will bring you nothing but harm.”

Xie Xueyi stared at him.

After a long moment, the corners of his lips lifted again, and he laughed softly. “Siyuan-gege is doing this for my own good. Of course I understand. Xueyi will listen to you.”

Gu Siyuan glanced at his bare feet. “Go put on your shoes, then go out and assemble.”

“I don’t have the strength. I can’t walk.” Xie Xueyi curled his toes mischievously and said with perfect confidence, “Siyuan-gege, carry me.”

Gu Siyuan glanced at him and raised an arm.

Xie Xueyi immediately smiled in triumph.

The next instant, a warm touch landed on his shoulder, and at the same time a burst of spiritual power surged into him. Like a violent gust of wind, it sent his whole body flying uncontrollably backward.

He was pushed all the way to the corner by the couch. Just as the spiritual force ran out, he dropped neatly onto the soft couch with his backside landing perfectly on it, not off by even a hair. It was obvious that Gu Siyuan’s control over spiritual power was exquisite.

But Xie Xueyi had no mood to praise him…

Morning sunlight drifted gently into the room.

Beneath the window, Gu Siyuan stood tall as jade, looking down at him from above. “If you keep acting mischievous and spoiled, then go into the mountains barefoot.”

Seeing him stand there looking all bright and noble while acting so cold and merciless, Xie Xueyi glared until his eyes were round. “Gu Siyuan, with that kind of personality, no matter how good-looking you are, you’ll never find a wife.”

“I don’t mind,” Gu Siyuan said mildly. “Or perhaps that would be even better.”

Xie Xueyi slammed a fist onto the bed and bent down angrily to put on his shoes.

Watching him, Gu Siyuan thought to himself: See, now he’s listening obediently.

After putting on his shoes, Xie Xueyi bounced twice on the floor like a child who had just gotten a new pair.

Once he was done bouncing, he hopped over in two or three steps to Gu Siyuan’s side and said pitifully, “Siyuan-gege, lower your head. I have something to tell you.”

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes.

He did not believe this fellow had any proper business.

Still, whatever came, he would simply respond to it.

So he lowered his head as asked.

The next second, he felt a moist warmth against his right ear, mixed with a faint sharp sting.

It was probably bleeding. Otherwise, with his pain tolerance, he would not have felt it this clearly.

Gu Siyuan pushed the person in front of him away. His expression remained calm and unmoved. “What kind of nonsense is this? Are you imitating a puppy?”

Xie Xueyi giggled. Between his pretty red lips, still stained with blood, two rows of white teeth showed, like a fierce little wild beast that had fixed its eyes on prey.

“This is punishment. Who told Siyuan-gege to make me angry? If there’s a next time, it’ll hurt even more.”

With that, he turned and left the room without another glance back.

The target of this world really had a personality that begged for discipline.

Gu Siyuan shook his head. A trace of spiritual power appeared in his hand as he took out a bluish-white porcelain bottle from his storage ring.

This was one of Qingchen Shan’s finest healing medicines. He poured a little onto his ear, and in less than a moment, the wound began to scab over.

After waiting a short while longer, Gu Siyuan also stepped out of the room.

But after taking no more than two steps, he was baffled by the sight before him.

He looked toward Ji Jinghuan, who stood at the center of the argument. “We’re about to return to the sect. Ji-shidi, what exactly is going on here?”

Ren Jiutian, who was leaning against a nearby doorway watching the drama, immediately laughed and said, “Isn’t this our Ji-shidi spending the night with a newly admitted disciple and getting caught red-handed by his fiancé?”

Ji Jinghuan frowned at Ren Jiutian. “Shixiong, mind your words.”

Then he turned toward Ruan Li, who was clinging to Xie Xueyi and refusing to let go, and frowned. “Stop making trouble. I was only saying a few words to Xueyi-shidi. It’s not what you think.”

But Ruan Li refused to believe him. Pointing at Xie Xueyi, he said, “Talking? Talking behind closed doors this early in the morning? Talking until his lips are bleeding? Jinghuan-ge, do you take me for a fool? He’s just a newly admitted disciple. If he wasn’t with you, how would he have gotten to the second level of the spirit vessel?”

Gu Siyuan looked at the blood on Xie Xueyi’s lips and raised a brow.

That was from biting him just now, and he still hadn’t wiped it off…

Sensing his gaze, Xie Xueyi blinked at him smugly.

Only then did he look at Ruan Li and say lazily, “Ruan Li-shixiong, you’ve really misunderstood. I just ate undercooked spirit beast meat this morning and got some blood on my lips. Look, now it’s gone.”

As he spoke, he stuck out his tongue and licked his lips lightly.

Ji Jinghuan also immediately added, “Ruan Li, I already told you it’s a misunderstanding. Stop being unreasonable.”

Hearing that, Ruan Li’s face turned ugly, and tears welled in his eyes. “Jinghuan-gege, you’re saying I’m unreasonable? You never used to speak to me like this. Do you still remember back in that cave? We were so close then…”

When Ji Jinghuan heard him mention the past, his heart softened a little.

He sighed and said, “I remember. Ruan Li, I remember you as the most understanding boy. That’s why I wanted to marry you as my wife. So let’s end this here. There really is nothing between me and Xueyi.”

At those words, Ruan Li’s gaze flickered, and he said emotionally, “Alright, Jinghuan-ge, I believe you. The only reason I got so angry is because I love you too much. Looking at this Xie Xueyi, with that fox-like face that’s neither man nor woman, I…”

Hm?

“…” Xie Xueyi was offended.

You two showing off your love—was it really necessary to drag me into it?

Gu Siyuan’s icy gaze swept toward Ruan Li. “Having passed all three entrance trials, Xie Xueyi is now a disciple of our immortal sect. Ruan Li, as an older disciple who entered earlier, you ought to care for and guide him. How can you so casually insult him like this? Where is the spirit of Taixuan? Have you forgotten the sect’s clear laws?”

His words were as cold as ice and heavy as stone.

Everyone present shuddered inwardly.

Ruan Li, as the one directly involved, felt it even more sharply.

Ever since entering the mountain, he had always been protected by Ji Jinghuan and had never once been rebuked so harshly. His expression immediately shrank back, and he nearly felt his soul turn unstable.

Xie Xueyi propped his chin in his hand and licked his lips as he watched Gu Siyuan.

Hehe, how imposing.

Ji Jinghuan, meanwhile, felt vaguely embarrassed.

He tried to comfort Ruan Li. “Ruan Li, apologize to Xueyi-shidi. I truly was not with him last night. From yesterday until this morning, I was actually helping Xinchi heal his injuries. I only just returned to my room.”

However, the moment those words came out, they were like fuel poured on a fire.

Ruan Li’s face twisted completely. “What did you say? You were with Xiao Xinchi all night?”

Compared to everyone else, Xiao Xinchi was his greatest rival. After all, everything he had now had been stolen from Xiao Xinchi.

He glared viciously at Xiao Xinchi, who had been silent the whole time. “So it’s true. How dare you? How dare you…”

Xiao Xinchi lowered his head guiltily. “Biao-ge, I’m sorry, but Ji-shixiong was really only helping me heal.”

“You shameless thing.” Ruan Li raised his hand to slap him.

Ji Jinghuan caught his wrist at once and said coldly with a frown, “Ruan Li, have you gone mad? Xinchi is your own cousin. He fought hard against the demonic attackers yesterday and was seriously injured. If I hadn’t helped him heal, it might have damaged the foundation of his cultivation path. Can’t you tell what matters more?”

“This story really has twist after twist,” Yan Miaomiao remarked from the side.

Yi Qianqiu said coolly, “Ji-shidi having too much romantic fate is also troublesome.”

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained indifferent. What a pack of fools blinded by love.

He said coldly to the three of them, “Enough. Whatever tangled affairs of love and desire you have can be handled properly after we return to the mountain. The spirit vessel is about to enter the sect. All of you line up and wait immediately. Otherwise, if you’re shredded by the mountain-protecting grand formation, it will only mean you brought it upon yourselves.”

After throwing down those words, he flicked his green robe and strode out of the spirit vessel cabin.

Ji Jinghuan narrowed his eyes as he watched Gu Siyuan leave.

Within Taixuan Xianzong, he had always been the most outstanding one.

Before yesterday, even Gu Siyuan, who was also the chief disciple of a mountain, had never been someone he truly regarded.

Back then, because of Ruan Li’s willfulness, he had missed the Taixuan competition and lost the so-called position of da shixiong, but he had not cared at all, because he had known clearly that in the hearts of everyone in the sect, only he was the true da shixiong.

And in truth, that had indeed been the case. After obtaining the title, Gu Siyuan had instead only become gloomier and more fallen.

But today’s Gu Siyuan—no, rather, ever since yesterday—seemed like a completely different person, radiating pressure from head to toe.

And now he was almost openly lecturing him to his face.

Ji Jinghuan had lived all these years and had never once been looked down upon so condescendingly by someone his own age.

When Gu Siyuan stepped out of the spirit vessel cabin, dozens of disciples in robes of five different colors were already standing at the front of the vessel. Behind them stood the newly recruited disciples, silent and restrained.

The moment they saw Gu Siyuan emerge, they all called in unison, “Da Shixiong!”

Gu Siyuan gave a slight nod.

Then, behind him, Ji Jinghuan, Xie Xueyi, and the others also emerged one after another and took their places.

Gu Siyuan walked to the very front of the spirit vessel and held out his palm. A magnificent and exquisitely crafted jade token rose swiftly into the air.

He called out loudly below, “The spirit vessel returns to the mountain—open the formation!”

The next instant, above the enormous mountain gate of Taixuan Xianzong, a brilliant five-colored divine light flashed, forming a huge ring of light in midair.

Gu Siyuan exchanged a glance with Ji Jinghuan and Yan Miaomiao. All five of them simultaneously activated their spiritual power and formed sword seals with their hands.

The spirit vessel beneath their feet suddenly sped up like an arrow released from a bow, leaping straight through the ring of light and racing into the middle region of the Taixuan Mountain Range.

They passed through drifting clouds and flocks of immortal birds.

At last, the snow-white spirit vessel came to a steady stop on a broad plaza paved with jade stone.

“The shixiong are back!”

“I want to see Ji-shixiong!”

“Ahhh, Ji-shixiong is so handsome!”

“Yan-shijie is still so beautiful! Ah, shijie, please whip me!”

When Gu Siyuan, Ji Jinghuan, and the other four chiefs stepped off the spirit vessel first, those were the wild and chaotic cries that greeted them.

Ren Jiutian narrowed his eyes and joked with a smile, “As expected, Ji-shidi is still the most popular.”

But when he said this, his eyes were on Gu Siyuan.

Yan Miaomiao raised a willow brow. “And why am I being overlooked? Weren’t there clearly the most people shouting my name?”

Yi Qianqiu immediately nodded. “Shimei leaves us all far behind. We can’t compare.”

Yan Miaomiao smiled and nodded lightly. “That’s more like it.”

Ji Jinghuan glanced thoughtfully at Yan Miaomiao and Yi Qianqiu.

They were helping Gu Siyuan out of an awkward spot…

Did Gu Siyuan want to become the real da shixiong now?

Ji Jinghuan narrowed his eyes. He had not agreed to that.

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained still as water, as if he had heard none of the outside voices.

With his hands behind his back, he stepped lightly forward, and in the next moment his body flashed like a meteor, appearing beneath the spirit vessel.

He looked toward the elders waiting in front of it and said coldly, “Not a single new disciple is missing. They are all here. Please trouble the elders to arrange their entry into the sect and assignment to the mountains. Also, something unexpected happened on the way. We disciples must immediately go and report to the Sect Master.”

The elder nodded, then glanced at Ji Jinghuan, Yan Miaomiao, and the others behind him. “Very well. You’ve all worked hard on the journey.”

…

The Taixuan Mountain Range stretched endlessly, its peaks layered one after another amid drifting mist.

Among them were five especially towering peaks arranged in a half-ring. These were the five main mountains of Taixuan Xianzong: Baiqing, Moyun, Qingchen, Ziji, and Hongling. Each mountain had its own inheritance.

And within that half-circle stood an even broader mountain called Taixuan. This was the residence of the Sect Master of Taixuan Xianzong.

After descending from Taixuan Mountain, Gu Siyuan and the others exchanged nods of farewell at the foot of the mountain and flew off on their swords toward their respective mountains.

Qingchen Shan lay to the southwest of Taixuan Mountain.

Qingchen Shan covered a radius of a hundred li and rose roughly five thousand meters high.

From the foot of the mountain to the summit, the higher one went, the lonelier and quieter it became, while the spiritual energy grew purer and purer.

Outer sect disciples lived around the thousand-meter level of the mountain. Inner sect disciples stayed around two thousand meters. Core disciples lived at three thousand meters. At four thousand meters were the residences of Gu Siyuan, the chief senior brother, and the elders.

As for the very summit, only one person lived there: the current mountain lord of Qingchen Shan.

Gu Siyuan made his way up without alerting anyone and landed silently in front of his residence.

Cultivators were not overly attached to worldly comforts.

Still, as the current chief disciple of Qingchen Shan, his courtyard had a fair bit of elegance.

It was called Linya Shui Ge. As the name implied, the entire courtyard had been built beside a cliff. The first thing one saw was half a lake filled with graceful white lotuses standing elegantly upright. Behind the lake stood an exquisite two-story building, made from some kind of spiritual wood that did not rot in water and even released faint wisps of fragrance.

Looking at the pavilion, Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes and crossed over the lotus lake without so much as touching the water, landing before the door.

The moment he opened it, a figure in red by the window turned his head.

His eyes shone brightly, his manner leisurely and at ease. The moment he saw the owner of the place, he even blinked at him playfully.

“Niangzi, you’re finally back. I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

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